For many people, their first experience with alcohol didn’t happen at home — it happened at school. Not in the classroom, of course, but during weekends, secret dorm-room drinks, or group celebrations. For those who attended boarding school, the culture of early drinking was often part of the experience — a mix of freedom, rebellion, bonding, and trying to fit in.

It may have felt harmless at the time. But what begins as a teenage phase can turn into a long-term pattern that’s surprisingly difficult to shake off, even decades later. Subtle behaviours and beliefs learned during those early years often stay buried in the subconscious, running on autopilot into adulthood.

How Drinking Habits Begin Early — and Why They Stick

Boarding schools often create the conditions for early drinking to flourish:

• No parental supervision
  
• Peer pressure to fit in
  
• Stress from academic and social demands
  
• The desire to feel older or in control
  

Drinking may have started as a rite of passage or a way to feel accepted. Over time, those occasional drinks could become part of an emotional response system — a go-to habit for relaxing, socialising, or coping with difficult feelings.

What makes these early habits especially persistent is that they’re formed at a time when our identity is still developing. Many adults unknowingly carry forward their teenage patterns, even when those behaviours no longer serve them.

According to research from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, people who begin drinking before age 14 are significantly more likely to experience alcohol dependence later in life — nearly five times more likely than those who start at 21 or older.

This underscores how powerfully formative those early drinking habits can be, and why they often require support at the subconscious level to truly shift.

Meet Ailsa Frank — Supporting Lasting, Positive Change

Known for her soothing voice and no-nonsense approach, renowned hypnotherapist Ailsa Frank has helped thousands of people to help them break free from habits they formed years ago — sometimes even as far back as school.

As the creator of the Feel Amazing App, Ailsa has developed targeted hypnosis recordings such as ‘Take Control of Alcohol’ that support gentle yet powerful changes in mindset, confidence, and emotional responses. Her alcohol reduction tools have helped people across all ages regain control of their habits — no matter how long they’ve been in place.

“Many people began drinking in their teenage years — often to gain confidence or fit in. But the subconscious doesn’t know you’ve grown up; it still runs on old programming. You’re not that schoolchild anymore. You’re allowed to update how you see yourself and how you cope with life. Hypnotherapy helps you gently unlearn those outdated patterns and replace them with calmer, wiser habits.”
— Ailsa Frank, hypnotherapist and founder of the Feel Amazing app

Why School-Formed Habits Stay With Us

Drinking at school often ties into how people saw themselves at the time:

• “I’m the fun one”
  
• “I need alcohol to be confident”
  
• “Everyone else was doing it, so it felt normal”
  

These self-beliefs can linger in the subconscious long after school is over. Even as life changes, we may find ourselves reaching for a drink at the end of the day without really knowing why. It’s not about willpower, it’s about programming.

That’s where hypnosis steps in. Ailsa’s recordings work by reshaping your internal scripts and separating who you are now from who you used to be. They help you let go of past identities and create a new mental framework that matches your current goals and values.

You don’t need to keep living by old labels. You're not that 16-year-old anymore, and the habits that once seemed harmless can be rewritten.

Real People, Real Changes

Many people who’ve used the Feel Amazing App describe feeling like something has simply “shifted.” One client shared this:

"The overwhelming appetite for alcohol has reduced. After two drinks, I’m happy to leave it at that. It feels good to be in control again."

Hypnotherapy helps people change from within, quietly and naturally. Over time, what once felt automatic no longer feels necessary.

Tools to Help You Take Back Control

The ‘Take Control of Alcohol’ recording within the Feel Amazing App is designed to address deep-rooted drinking habits — including those that may have started during school years. It works by delivering positive suggestions to the subconscious, helping you respond to stress or social moments with calm, confidence, and clarity.

Unlike willpower-based solutions, hypnosis makes the change feel natural — as though the desire simply fades away. Recordings are easy to fit into everyday routines and can be listened to:

• At bedtime
  
• While relaxing after work
  
• During quiet moments in the day
  

Many people also start with free resources available inside the app, such as:

• Good Night’s Sleep: Supports restful sleep and helps reset your body’s natural rhythm, often disrupted by regular drinking.
  
• Stop Worrying – 10 Minute Daily: Ideal for reducing daily stress, calming the mind, and gently breaking stress-linked cravings.
  
• Calm Music Album: Provides a soothing audio backdrop for relaxation and emotional reset throughout the day.

These recordings work together to support steady, subconscious progress — without stress or overwhelm.

You Don’t Have to Stay Stuck in Old Patterns

The habits you formed at school don’t have to follow you for life. Whether you’re drinking more than you’d like, feeling out of control, or just curious about changing your relationship with alcohol — help is available.

Ailsa’s hypnotherapy system allows you to gently shift your mindset and step away from old routines that no longer reflect who you are. You don’t need to battle your habits, you just need to guide your subconscious in a new direction.

To begin, explore the Feel Amazing App here, where you’ll find resources to help you cut back on drinking and build a calmer, more balanced lifestyle.

You can also read more about mindful drinking and how hypnotherapy can help you regain control.

You don’t have to undo the past, you only need to choose something better today.